Music Psychos

Paper Lions - Full Colour and Toronto Show on October 15th, 2016!

2016-10-12T22:19:00.000-04:00

Hello fellow Musicpsychos! It’s been a while…How have you been?

I decided to pick up a pen to write this blog post for the first time in a very, very long time to inform you all that there is a show that you must not miss…my favourite PEI quartet, Paper Lions is headlining a Toronto show at Mod Club this coming Saturday, October 15th With Special Guests, Raven Shields, Featurette, and Inventor

My endless love of Paper Lions started the very first time I encountered their album, Trophies, released back in 2010. ( Time flies…) It was a love at the first ‘listen’ and their infectious indie rock pop songs such as Don’t touch the Dial, Sweat It Out, and Lost the War have been part of my in-shower sing-a-loud repertoire ever since.

(Here are a couple of my posts in the past : Live show review and my interview with Paper Lions in 2011)

Their music style has evolved over the years through the release of a melodic acoustic piece, At Long Creek and an indie pop masterpiece, My Friends. Now with the new release of their full- album in September this year, Full Colour, they are ready to rock your pants!

With this new album, Full Colour, these PEI indie rockers found the recipe that perfectly infuses poppy synth melodies over their trademark catchy verses. The first single, Believer, is a perfect example of Paper Lions’ magic. They just got it right; It makes your foot tap from the very first verse and by the end of the song, you will be busting some dance moves that you never thought you had in you! (leaving you with stuck-tune syndrome.)

I have been very lucky to witness many of their vivacious live shows (it’s never enough though!) in Toronto and Austin and every time I see them live, I end up with a big smile on my face and some muscle pain in my legs after dancing like I’ve been shot in the legs. (NO Regrets!!!)

So join me this coming Saturday, October 15th at Mod Club to celebrate the release of Full Colour with Paper Lions. Tickets are only $15. (yes, you heard right. only $15!!!) I’m a longtime Paper Lions’ Believer and this is just so exciting to be a part of!

For more information. Follow their Facebook event page!

See y’all on Saturday xo

Death From Above 1979 - The Physical World Review

2014-09-02T11:59:00.001-04:00

100 out of 5 stars - this album will easily be remembered as one of the best releases of the last decade. At least for this listener, it’s quality, complexity, grace, and ferocity has already pushed them beyond where they left off with their first full length “You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine”. The album clocks in at just over 35 minutes of sheer glory.

This is Bryan checking in for your musicpsychos.com track-by-track review.

Cheap Talk: This album starts off just right – cowbell, synths, crunch, and that signature Death from Above 1979 riffage. Get ready to mosh kids!

Right On, Frankenstein!: Glory days that we are glad never actually ended. This song brings me right back to “You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine”. Interesting that they use the Lyric “Same old song, just a different tune”. I feel similarly to that lyric about this – just, you know, in a good way.

Virgins: Heavy, might even

be the heaviest they have tried to be together. Deep chugging thunder – paired with social questions they are known for sneaking into their catchy as hell dance-punk with an equally catchy refrain of “Don’t ever change, Bad is Good Enough.”

Always On: Knowing that Jesse F. Keeler almost joined Queens of the Stone Age as a bassist, its no surprise to hear a track that could easily be on a Queens/Kyuss record.

Crystal Ball: This song is pure Death From Above ferocity – refined and polished into sharp piecing steel. Having their time apart to find themselves and find what that means for Death From Above 1979 helped them to truly pinpoint what dto do in the band together and they do it so well.

White Is Red: The ballad to end all ballads. When I heard this live during their tours, I wondered what it would sound like on record and if it would translate – and it works even better on record. This might have a chance of eclipsing Back History Month as everyone’s favorite down-tempo DFA1979 song. It certainly has for me.

Trainwreck 1979: The first single released from The Physical World was not one that easily resonated with me at first. It took many listens before I “got it”. I thought it was too pop – and it is definitely the most mass-market accessible song on the album – but then again Sexy Results is a lot of folk’s favorites and that song is insanely pop. Just heavy as hell – which is the same here. Not gonna lie – listening to it now, its definitely going to be stuck in my head again for the next 24 hours.

Nothin’ Left: Aside from the updated production vales that comes with experience in the studio - this one sounds like it could have been pulled right off of “You’re a Woman, I’m a Machine”. Sure to please old school fans and new alike, the feel is very Little Girls

Government Trash: Second Single caught me and kept me listening a thousand times in a row. Straight-ahead DFA1979 Punk. They left their dancing shoes at home for this one. Pure aggression and I love it!

Gemini: Tight fills, tight fills, and tight fills! Chugging rhythms, chugging rhythms, and chugging rhythms! Everything you expected it to sound like until they have the big huge wide-open chorus! These boys get better and better with composition. My only issue with this track is its length! I wish it was way longer!

The Physical World: Oh, did I say that Virgins was the heaviest track? I lied. Pure doom metal on this track – paired with house synths with auto-arpeggiators, chugging lines and synth stabs, with vocoder verses. An almost “Mr. Crowley”-eqsue Randy Rhoads style solo on bass to finish the album off too. Damn. This may be both the most Death From Above 1979 sounding song and the Least Death From Above 1979 sounding song ever. It doesn’t have to make sense to be DFA – it just has to be awesome.

And it IS.

Bry

The link to stream via iTunes can be found in the link below:

http://www.stereogum.com/1702450/stream-death-from-above-1979-the-physical-world/mp3s/album-stream/

Live show review: Band of Skulls, April 24th, 2014 at Phoenix Concert Theatre

2014-04-30T10:24:00.002-04:00

Southampton, UK based rock trio, Band of Skulls axed the Toronto audience with their classic rock inspired act on April 24th, 2014 at Phoenix Concert Theatre during their North American tour to support their latest release, Himalayan. I heard such positive reviews from my friends about their opening act for Soundgarden at iTune Festival during this year's SXSW, so I was all hyped up like a little girl when they showed up on the stage.

Opening up the show with the first single off the new record, Asleep at the Wheel, British rockers showcased their simple, yet reminiscent classic style of 70's rock n' roll. The unison of monotone guitar jamming and consistent drum rat-a-tats flourished the dynamic chorus during the song. The guitarist, Russel Marsden and the bassist, Emma Richardson, shared the lead vocal duty interchangeably. Instead of layering different vocal pitches, Marsden and Richardson collided their vigorous voices, which cohesively complimented each other.

The groovy guitar riffs invited the audience to the swaying party with the following tune, Himalayan. In the middle of the song, the repeated harmonies of "Himalayan" slowed down the tune and then it jumped into a jaw- dropping guitar solo and again, slaughtered the audience with such a beguiling chorus. The set consisted heavily on the new release but they continued to entertain the audience with fan favourite tunes from previous releases, such as You Aren't Pretty But You Got it Going On, I Know What I Am, and Patterns.

My highlight of the performance was from the encore, where they played Light of the Morning. Marseden commenced the song slowly by himself and was in the limelight of the entire venue, while he hauled his guitar and voice fiercely, which caused and audience eargasm, including myself, which they shouted at the stage with excitement. The feel of the moment was so warm and raw, which is what makes live shows so special.

Band of Skulls is a band that you like songs on their records, but attending their show makes the listeners love them even more. These songs are spiced up with their tenacious and vibrant performance that you can only experience it in the moment. It is so nice to see a three piece classic band who can show us what real rock and roll is in today's digital age. A band like them will always have a big space in my soul.

Liveshow Review: The National at Massey Hall on April 11th, 2014

2014-04-22T20:22:00.000-04:00

I was very fortunate to get a ticket to see the last night of a three-night residency of Brooklyn based rock band, the National, at the legendary Massey Hall on Friday April 11th, 2014. One of my friends scored me and fellow the National lovers some seats front and centre and I knew it was going to be hell of a show, a show that I would remember for the rest of my life.

The concert was beautifully opened by British indie rock trio, Daughter. Depsite the technical difficulties that the guitarist Igor Haefeli was having, (His guitar pedals broke down and guitar strings also snapped during their set. Haefeli wasn't clearly having the best day and I could see his frustration on his face and through sound. (Yes, I was THAT close to the stage.)) Their aesthetic melodies and most noticeably, the graceful voice of Elena Tonra struck me hard from the first listen, and I could hear from the audience that it wasn't only my heart that Daughter won over that night.

Patiently waiting by the stage, the show was lit on fire by the fans the moment that members of the National walked on the stage and they commenced their show with Sea of Love, the uplifting tune from the latest album, Trouble Will Find Me. Followed by the National's signature mellow delight, I Shall Live In Salt and my favourite song from the previous album, High Violet, Anyone's Ghost, their shows were filled with the sing-slong session one after another.

The lead singer, Matt Berninger, paced back and forth on the stage, while leaving the audience in awe with his notable baritone voice. He closed his eyes while planting his profound vocal on the lyrical notes. When songs like Afraid of Everyone, Mistaken for Strangers and Graceless arose their climax, Bernnger shouted his heart out as he shook the entire venue like a tsunami wave. Berninger also smashed his beer glass on the stage as he burst with energy on stage.

It was such a treat to be standing right in front of the rhythm guitarist, Aaron Dessner as I enjoyed every single dulcet guitar riff he crafted from his guitar. The set list was composed with fan favourites from their break-through album, Boxer, High Violet and Trouble Will Find Me. My highlight of the night was when they played Green Gloves and Pink Rabbits back to back, the sorrow ballads that took my breath away and brought tears to my heart.

For their encore, the quintet started off with peaceful melodic jam, Lean and shifted the atmosphere rapidly with the vigorous verse of Mr. November, where Berninger jumped off from the stage and walked through the crowd ferociously. Then they invited our beloved Toronto based singer songwriter, Hayden on the stage and completed their send off with Terrible Love and an unplugged session of Vanderlyle Crybaby Greek. I engraved every moments of the show on my heart. A band like the National keeps the quality of live music so high. Oh man, I love them so much.

Billy Moon, Young Adult

2014-04-21T17:57:00.002-04:00

If you have ever read some of my posts, you've already known of my obsession with the Georgia native singer songwriter/producer (of Fall Out Boys, Pink, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry, just to name a few.), Butch Walker. In his biography, Drinking with Strangers: Music Lessons from a Teenage Bullet Belt, Walker quotes “Your youth is the most important thing you will ever have. It's when you will connect to music like a primal urge, and the memories attached to the songs will never leave you. Please hold on to everything. Keep every note, mix tape, concert ticket stub, and memory you have of music from your youth. It'll be the one thing that might keep you young, even if you aren't anymore.”

The reason that I am citing the quote is while listening to the new EP, Young Adult, by the Hamilton based garbage rock duo, Billy Moon, it reminded me of the bitter sweetness of adolescence. Formed in the first year of university, the members of Billy Moon have now graduated and and are all 'grown-up as Young Adult.'

The duo deployed the stories of youths in their early 20's, stories that we can all relate to. One of my favourite songs, Kalashnikov, is about the freedom and the frustration that comes with the unforeseeable future throughout the fetching surf rock tune.

Regardless, you can find a mirror to your youth within these songs, I promise you that their raw and alluring tunes will catch your heart in a song like their single, Video Girls. You can listen to their EP for free from Bandcamp. Give a listen from the below link.

Young Adult. by Billy Moon

Foxy Shazm Announced a New North American Tour and a New Album, GONZO

2014-04-02T19:14:00.001-04:00

Cincinnati based rock n' rock band, Foxy Shazam, broke their long-lasting silence today and announced the new release of their fifth record, GONZO and the following North American Tour from May 27th. It has been the most exciting news of the week for me as I have adored their jaw-dropping acrobatic performances since my first encounter with them in 2010 when they opened up for Toronto pop rock band, Hollerado. (Click here to read my review of the show)

After previously releasing a few albums with various record labels, including the smash hit self-titled album in 2010 and The Church of Rock and Roll in 2012, the Ohio native sextet has decided to release the new album, GONZO, independently via Bandcamp and offer fans the first dip of the record for free. (Click here or the below player to give a listen of the album or download it for free.) After opening for the Darkness and Slash in the last few years, Foxy Shazam has established a fan base across the continent and I am very happy to see a band of their scale transform into more independent act as it benefits both the band and listeners.

This is me and Foxy Shazam from SXSW in 2011!
I am so excited!

They also released tickets for their shows with an affordable service fee through their official website. There is an option for fans to purchase a VIP ticket with a meet-and-greet session with the band and a custom silkscreened poster. The Toronto show date is June 24that Lee's Palace. It is the very first headlining show in town for a long time. ( like years!!!) Grab your tickets while it is available!

GONZO by Foxy Shazam

EP Review: Luke Bill

2014-04-01T10:26:00.002-04:00

A few months ago when I went to see Toronto’s beloved super cover band, Dwayne Gretzky during their residency at the Horseshoe Tavern, I discussed the importance of hooks in a song with my friend, Ian McDonnell over a few pints. I strongly agreed with him that regardless of the technicality of musical composition, if there is a snaring verse to grab the listeners' attention, the song flourishes its sound to the fullest without a ninja like guitar trick.

McDonnell is a singer/guitarist for a Toronto based alt-country/pop rock outlet, Luke Bill. The band newest self-titled EP, epitomizes this theory. The initial tune from the EP, Wonders, kicks off with raw guitar strolls and resonant vocals, which dance cohesively with the guitar jam. It keeps the sounds simplicity, which highlights the expansion of its musical hook. The soft touch of McDonnall and Becky Johnson's vocal waltz has an opportunity to be deployed in the following tune, One Trick Machine Gun, which is my favorite song from the EP. The harmony is complemented by adulcet melody line which gives me a nostalgic feel of good oldies from the 60's. It's very simple and easy, but cultivating at the same time. The last tune, Every Time You Love, You Die, builds its momentum through guitar jam and lamenting vocals and brings the climax of orchestratic harmonies, which I picture a sing- along session with the audience at their show.

I just missed their EP release party at Cameron House on March 22nd. However, I'm sure they will play another show in town shortly. Meanwhile enjoy their new EP from here!

Warpaint on Tuesday, March 25th, 2014 at the Danforth Music Hall

2014-03-31T09:48:00.002-04:00

LA based all-girl band, Warpaint paid a visit to Toronto on Tuesday, March 25th at the Danforth Music Hall during their North American tour with Wales singer songwriter, Cate Le Bon. I was dying to see them live after my friend, Bryan introduced me to them a few weeks ago and we missed their show at SXSW. They delivered a compulsive yet dreamy performance, which was beyond my expectations.

They kicked off their set with a tune from their latest self-titled album released in January, Feeling Alright. The quartet cohesively pulled the strings of ambient melodies, which mesmerized the audience instantly from the very first tune they dropped on the stage. They've mixed new tunes with their good oldie songs. A singe off of the new record, Love Is to Die, emitted plaintive yet divine verses, which I appreciated every of bit of the danceable beats.

My favorite moment of the show was when they performed Billie Holiday, a soft tune composed of four majestic harmonies generated by the girls. I found myself immersed in the world of Warpaint where I couldn't help but sway along with the melodic wave.

My eyes and ears were pleased, yet it wasn't the end of their performance climax. As their encore, the quartet performed one of the fans favorite tunes off their initial record, Elephant. Starting with captivating guitar riffs followed by aesthetic vocal of Emily Kokal, the song led the audience to the five minute (or even longer) of the mind-blowing jamming session. It reminded me that music is something we don't only use our ears to listen. It is something we feel with all five senses, in-taking every bit of visual, scent, texture verse and taste in the moment.

The jam kept cultivating my curiosity so long that I wish it lasted forever. I went home from the show and the first thing I did was to turn on my record to listen to the newly purchased vinyl at the show. When I closed my eyes, I had vivid fresh back of these four girls rocking the shit out that I hadn't felt it for a very long time

Stuck Tune Syndrome: The Wire by HAIM

2014-03-24T13:03:00.000-04:00

Since I came back from SXSW, I don't know how many times I've repeated this song: The Wire by Los Angeles based rock trio, HAIM. Their debut album, Days Are Gone, can easily be found in numerous media outlets “Best of 2013” articles including Pitchfork Media.

With their 1980's pop and soft rock infused tune, HAIM maneuver their three layered alluring harmonies throughout the song while taking turns to fill the main vocal. Compared to other tunes from the album, this song, The Wire, gives a less electronic feel, but it omits raw feelings due to the song composition. The emotional feeling derives from the straightforward lyrics about breakups. Maybe it is not a bad means to send someone this song to express our feelings rather than writing a letter or having a conversation.

HAIM are playing at Kool Haus on May 15th with Tennis. Unfortunately the show is already sold out. If you have a spare ticket, let me know. I am dying to see them live.

Neil Young Brings PONO to the World

2014-03-13T13:08:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone from Austin, TX!

I've been here enjoying SXSW since last Wednesday. I have already seen some awesome performances and I cannot wait to share my experience here on musicpsychos with you guys!

I've been really inspired while I've been here. I've seen Jason Batemen, Jeffery Tampor, Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein from Portlandia in the last few days. Despite the differences in their genres, everyone has a common theme. " If you are passionate about something, stick to it and one day people will notice you as you are good at what you are passionate about it."

My biggest inspiration so far is Neil Young's interview on Tuesday, March 11th. He talked about his new project, PONO, which is a device that the audience can finally enjoy the real sound of music from the recording. (ultra-high resolution recordings of 192kHz/24 bit)

He cares and loves Music so much that he dedicated himself to invest in this amazing device. You can find out the details from the below video.

PONO Kickstarter from pono on Vimeo.

you can still pledge on Kickstarter! Chick here to be the part of this amazing move to the future of music

The Balconies Cover Blood On Our Hands by DFA1979

2014-03-03T14:13:00.001-05:00

While my blog was on hiatus, I purchased my first record player and I've been slowly collecting vinyls. Since I grew up during the CD generation and my parents didn't own one, so it is something new and exciting to me. The sound that floats off from the player is way better than CD or MP3 and it is a great way to appreciate an album as a whole, which we tend to forget the significance of due to the convenience of downloading music nowadays. The only thing that bothers me though, is I have get up and flip the vinyl every 15-20 minutes while I am immersed in the world of the album. (#FirstWorldProblem.)

Anyways, I was walking on Yonge street the other day and I spotted this pink vinyl on display, You're a Woman, I am a Machine, by Death From Above 1979. This album has easily been one of my favourite albums of the 2000's and I had to stop by and get it. I was so stoked about this purchase and I enjoyed every bit of the sound coming out of the player and it's been my morning ritual to put it on while I get ready for work. While I am fond of the original version of the album, I also love this cover, Blood On Our Hands, by the Toronto based rock trio, the Balconies and it deserves a shout-out. What I love about this cover is the vocals and Jacquie Neville's roaring performance. She put her soul into the song and I just cannot take my eyes and ears off of her.

The Balconies - Blood On Our Hands (DFA 1979) - Live At NOW Lounge from NOW Magazine on Vimeo.

The Balconies have their own agenda for 2014. Their full album, Fast Motions, was finally released a few days ago. It was produced by Arnold Lanni (Finger Eleven, Simple Plan, Out Lady Peace) and the album still managed to keep a boisterous feel in their clean yet glamorous sound. In this album, they reworked their older songs and polished them into a new version such as the Slo and Do It In The Dark (It was called Serious Bedtime in their self-title album released in 2009.) But what I really recommend you do is to see them live. You cannot truly understand who they are until you see their vibrant performance. Here is their first single off the Album, The Slo. Give a listen!

Paperlions: Acquaintances

2014-03-03T09:41:00.000-05:00

PEI indie pop quartet, Paperlions, have announced their new EP, Acquaintances, which is set to be released Tuesday, March 4th. This EP includes a new song, Do You Wanna, which is a classic Paperlions' fetching pop tune. The chorus, "Do you think you wanna, Do you think you wanna come over...",stuck in my head from the first listen and I caught myself humming the tune immediately after. Classic Paperlions' magic!!! This EP also features My Friend, remixed by Whale Skin and the Octopus Project. I am very excited to hear the Octopus Project Remix!!! !!

Tracklisting:

1. Do You Wanna
2. My Friend (Whaleskin Remix)
3. My Friend (Octopus Project Remix)

I am back!!!

2014-03-01T13:22:00.001-05:00

Hello fellow music psychos! How are you?

It's been almost a year since I wrote my last post. Things have drastically changed around me and I am in a good place to restart what I love to do, which is to share my thoughts on local indie bands with you guys!

I was inspired to get back to writing after a recent event in Windsor. A friend of mine had a meeting with a gorgeous couple, Reggie and Lizzy to discuss their project. After a short but lovely talk with Lizzy, it turned out that I wrote a review on their project, Konqistador, back in Sep 2012. What a small world, right? Then I realized that even though it was a review written by someone like me, it did influence someone else in this awesome way, My review is now used in their bio, which I am very grateful.

This time, I will only write what I want at my own pace, regardless what others have to say about my blog. But if you would like to share what you create with me, please feel free to send me your music to my inbox: musicpsychos@gmail.com. I will be more than happy to listen and share my insight. I cannot wait to start writing again!!! I am very excited.

Announcement

2013-04-07T17:11:00.000-04:00

Hello fellow music psychos!

Thank you very much for coming to my site and reading reviews that I have been writing in the last few years. This is definitely a passion of mine and I cannot thank enough for those who were involved in my Music Psychos page.

Today I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to take some time off from writing. In the past few months, I have struggled with writing articles, especially about bands that I 'had to' write. It has been always on my mind to figure out the reason and this article may explain well on how I feel.

I used to be brave enough to write bad reviews based on how I really felt about the band/music/album. About 2 years ago, I wrote this review of Super Chunk opening for Broken Social Scene and I got badly bashed for it. I received a number of emails and comments that made me scared of writing a true review. So I decided not to write anything if there is anything good for me to say about it. But then what is the point of writing about music when I cannot comfortably express how I feel? This is the main reason that I am taking a break until I become truly comfortable with what I write here.

Secondly, I have other priority now in my life and I need to put this on hold in order for me to focus on what matters the most to me.

I don't know how long this hiatus is going to be. but I am sure that I will be back when I am ready.

Thank you very much for all your supports and don't forget to follow your heart on what you do.

Cheers,

Kanae Doi

April 7th, 2013.

CMW interview with Yuichiro Tokuda

2013-03-31T14:18:00.000-04:00

It was the second time for Japanese jazz artist, Yuichiro Tokuda to participate in Canadian Music Week with his band Ralyzzdig." There were lots of people came to see our show last night thanks to Jazz FM being a sponsor this year." Tokuda performed at Court House two nights in row as a part of the Jazz festival showcase during CMW and it seems like he had a blast. (I was so bummed that I missed it...) Tokuda kindly sent me the video of their performance that night.

This Japanese jazz quintet, Ralyzzdig is the super group of Japanese Jazz scene as many of them are internationally recognized after winning several awards in the past. The band name, Ralyzzdig is a made up word pulled together by Tokuda. "Ralyzzdig contains English words of "Ray" "Lyric", "Jazz" and "Dig”. The name was created with the wish to discover a flash of lyrical jazz throughout their music."

Ralyzzdig has a full length album that is on the horizon, Crossing Colours is now set to be released on March 27th. (Released this week!) "I started writing songs after last year's Canadian Music Week. Before that, we had an opportunity to play in China and Malaysia and came to Canada. The more chances that we had played overseas, the more I started thinking that I would like to craft songs based on what I gained though people I met from different cultures. Colours in this context means races and wanted to make a bridge made of music to cross over the difference. We will always have a difference, but we can still have the same ground somewhat. That was what I was seeking to create with our music."

There is a cover of Japanese traditional child song, Aka Tombo (red dragonfly) in the album. The song is a fresher version of the traditional style yet it has the scent of nostalgia. "I have roots in Okinoerabujima, Kagoshima (an island located near southern part of Japan.) I started writing songs about the place and also arranged Japanese folk songs in the past. (Note: Okinawa Island and southern islands are known for their unique traditional folk styles.) It has such a beautiful melody line to it. I don't just pick up any songs to cover." Another song off the album, Hamabe No Uta, (Song of the seashore ) is covered for the same reason. This song also has a special place in Tokuda's heart. "This song is for those who suffered from the huge earthquake Fukushima, 2 years ago. In May of 2011, we first visited Malaysia and it was just 2 months after the earthquake and we weren't sure if we could make it. So when we were on the stage we performed this song thinking of Japan. We were performing this song prior to the earthquake, but I feel like there is a special meaning to this song when we perform it. This Hamabe No Uta is from Tohoku region, (Northern part of Japan which was worst hit by the earthquake.) The composer was from Akita. (It is located in the same region of Fukushima in Japan.) He wrote the song for being nostalgic after looking at the beaches. I've volunteered in Tohoku region in the past and played this song so many times."

The title song, Crossing Colours has two versions on the album, Crossing Colours-Element and Crossing Colours-Harmony. The first one focuses more on percussive melodies whereas the latter has the resonant piano tunes. The reason that he put two arrangements of one song in the album is the remake they've worked on. "We had to record Crossing Colours three times. I felt like the theme of the song was very big and I couldn't finalize the form of the song for a long time. When we first recorded, it sounded good, but it wasn't great enough to convince me. So we recorded it again, which is the Crossing Colours-Harmony. At last, when we recorded the last version of the song, it became Crossing Colours-Element. The tune has changed from major to minor and the image of the song has drastically changed."

There is another cover song in the album, Kiseki, miracle. by Japanese pop group, GReeeeN. "The reason behind it was 4-5 years ago, we visited a junior high school in a very small town, which was about to close down and played for the graduation ceremony. We were requested by the students to play one of the popular songs then and that as this song. I wanted to show them what a Jazz band really is throughout the song. We didn't play it for a long time but just around a year ago, we started playing the song again, and started feeling like the song fit the band really well, then we decided to play it again."

With this album, Tokuda will continue touring Japan and Asian counties in this spring. But he didn't forget about the Canuck fans. "Thank you very much for your support and I really would like to come to my shows next time that I come to Toronto and listen to my new album.”

CMW Interview with Takashi Kamide

2013-03-24T21:41:00.000-04:00

I believe that the element that makes musicians very attractive is the passion toward music. Who cares about missing one key during the set. When their enthusiasm transmits through their soulful performance, it spices up the live show.

When I first watched a YouTube video channel of Japanese accordionist, Takashi Kamide, where he has recorded his original songs and covered various Japanese pop songs, I was withdrawn to the computer screen and proceeded with one after another for a while. Even though they were self-recorded on his iPhone, the quality of the videos didn't bother me at all (it's retro and artistic anyways,) and rather, I couldn't help noticing the joy of playing music that he was expressing through the melodies that he seamed together.

So who is Takashi Kamide? He is an accordion player /songwriter from Nara, Japan, who explores the possibility of what this traditional instrument can do in collaboration with various genre. His international experience including SXSW (2010 and 2011) has raised up his profile internationally and he has participated in this year's Canadian Music festival for the first time. Not only the defeat of illness in early his life, (You can find out more about that from his biography.), but also his positive attitude toward life enhances the taste of his music. His unique style of the combination of organic musical instrument and adaptation of today's technology is a must-listen. In short, he is a true music geek that embraces music from the bottom of his heart and enjoys it at the fullest in every respect.

Kamide started playing accordion aside from jazz piano when he was a teenager. " When I was practicing jazz piano, I struggled with it a couple of times and wanted to play other instruments to take a break from it. I picked an accordion as it has the keys like a piano so it was easy for me to play. Gradually I started being very interested in it and I discovered lots of talented artists and it thought it would very interesting for me to try it out. I was already writing songs as a hobby when I was in middle school. Composing songs came to me very naturally without any instructions by anyone."

Kamide has just released a mini album called, Reborn on March 20th. "The title of the song is related to a song off the record, Tomorrow" Said Kamide. "A dog that I had for about 10 years passed away two years ago and this song reminds me of the happiest time that I had with him. I wrote this song before the incidence, but I was so depressed about his passing and I didn't feel like making any music or performing. So I just did a few works to make living. However, around last year, I finally felt like I was ready to start making music all over again a little by little and I started recording songs. So I felt like my mind was "reborn" in that way. I used to write songs that were hard to understand by most listeners.( It was very experimental and it didn't have a clear melody line so it was hard for the listeners to follow.) Musicians like to create songs like that, but I was advised that my music can only be understood by music geeks, so it might be a good idea for me to try something more melodious for people to understand. I used to write songs like that in the past. It was after the fact that my participation for CMW was finalized and I was writing songs that were very geeky. So I wanted to try something new after receiving the advice. In this way, the title, Reborn made sense to me. These songs contains a sold melody line that people can sing along with after their first listen, but still interesting for musicians to perform. This change in the style of the album forced me to postpone the release of the album. ( Originally it was scheduled to be released last year.)"

This 5 song mini album contains a very unique album illustration as well. " It was done by Satoko Takahashi, an engraving artist. The image of the person holding the egg looks like playing an accordion. Also I thought the egg in the art implies reborn."

One of the songs off the album, Pure and Dark features this interesting instrument called accordina, which he has used a couple of times during CMW. "The reaction that I got from the audience was good." Said Kamide as he eagerly showed me the French instrument that I'd never seen in my life. The challenges that he takes to make traditional instruments as an artist are something that you don't wanna miss out.

CMW Review: Japan Nite Four Minutes til Midnight

2013-03-24T19:42:00.000-04:00

What a day for Japanese/U.S funk rock band, Four Minutes Til Midnight! First off, the original member/guitarist, Kenta Hayashi who plays a big role in the band is not touring with the band due to his visa situation in the States. Secondly, the lead singer, Eli Taylor didn't make it to the flight to Toronto so he had to take a greyhound bus from New York for 13 hours and barely made it to their show, just one song after their show has started. (It was more like 15 mins after Midnight, get it?) The moment Eli jumped on the stage, there was a relief on the faces of the members and it felt as if it was their reunion show. It just made EVERYONE in the venue smile and so more excited.

Once Eli got ready to rock out with the Canuck audience for the first time, they blasted their funkyest bass slaps and guitar howls to the loudest. Their unique style of the funk/jazz/rock infusion was a reminiscent of Red Hot Chili Peppers. Their boarder-less musical style was intriguing to witness. Despite the 13 hour bus ride, Eli Taylor was very energetic and showcased his hand dancing with rhythmical rapping. It was 5th band of the night where the audience usually get tired out by the end. However, the energy of the whole venue kept up very high and the audience swayed along with the groove as if it was transmitted from the stage. This is definitely a band that you want to keep eyes on. Let's talk a little bit about their history as Music Psychos had an opportunity to speak with the bassist Yu-suke prior to the show.

This unique quartet from two continents started back in 2005. The guitarist, Kenta and singer Eli met in a music institute in L.A and shared a common music ground and started playing together with the bassist, Yu-suke from Japan who was also living in San Francisco back then. " I used to live in California and played with Eli, but we both (Kenta and Yu-suke) had to go back to Japan last year due to our visa situation. The visa expiration in the State forced us to go back." Said Yu-suke.

Prior to the departure from the States, Four Minutes Til Midnight has released a self recorded album called, Find My Way. A single off the record, Cold Lonely Train has marked #1 spot in Japanese indie rock radio chart, Usen, which made them buzzed up in Japan. They've also participated in the world biggest battle of the band, Emergenza Music Festival and won the second place. All the buzz from media outlets and labels landed them with an opportunity to provide a cover song, Lounge Act in the Nirvana's tribute album, Never Mind in 2012. "We are not really famous in Japan yet. ( we are going to be!) so we had to choose a song that was left on the table after other artists chose theirs. I was happy with the choice it was the song that I wanted to play, but other members wanted to play other songs. Kenta rearranged the whole song and brought it to the band." The cover song is spiced up with their signature funk taste to it."

This contribution has made them even hotter among major labels, and finally Four Minutes Till Midnight was signed by Universal Music Japan. " It was a great timing that our band got signed with a Japanese major label ( to be back in Japan.)"

After landing in the homeland, the band was physically parted but not spiritually,one of the hardest things for Yu-suke was to adjust back in the Japanese culture. "I've been living in the states so long that when I went to back, I was shocked. Japanese people are very shy. Japanese audience seem like when bands are playing the song, they kinda watch it and taking all in, whereas American audience are lively aggressive. So it can be very intimidating to play in Japan. Everyone is watching and being very attentive. In America, it's so much like a party. I miss the culture here and I wish I could move back to the states. I love Japan, but I prefer the North American culture better."

They've released their debut album through Universal Music Japan last year. One of the songs off the album Brothers has such a strong message to it along with its alluring funk rock melody."Kenta made the melody line of the song first. At the beginning of the song, there is a old man narrative. Eli works in a supermarket and he met the old guy in the store and he talked about WW2 with him and he did an interview with him and recorded the narrative portion and we used it in the song."

After this Japan Nite U.S tour, Four Minutes Til Midnight has a recording plan lined up. "We are going to record a new album next month in Mexico. It is set to be released in Nov 2014. I feel lots of pressure now that we are living in different countries that we can't record or practice often. But I hope the recording in Mexico will go well."

CMW review: Day 2 and 3 by Idio Teque

2013-03-23T13:26:00.000-04:00

While Kanae was super busy interviewing all Japanese bands/ artists who are in town for this year's Canadian Music Week, my dear friend, Idio Teque has offered some reviews of what he witnessed over the last few days. Check it out!

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Meet The Blue - March 20th @Gladstone

I'll admit, this is the first time I ever made my way the North Ballroom at The Gladstone Hotel, and it was somewhat at a whim. Wednesday night of CMW didn't have a whole lot that caught my eye, but this show had a few bands from Europe so it seemed like a worthwhile event to attend. This is what's listed on the CMW website about Meet The Blue:

"Meet the blue are an alternative indie duo from Ireland, the band has been in existence in some way or another since the beginning of time. Playing shows and house parties in Ireland, self releasing demos and singles and finally releasing their debut EP in 2012 after a busy year of shows and recording in Toronto. Meet The Blue is Darragh O' Sullivan (guitar/vocals/synth) and Paul Cosgrave (drums) The band is currently working on a follow up EP."

Originally from Ireland, they've made their home in Toronto recently, and while there were not a whole lot of people at The Gladstone, they definitely rocked out hard and brought to mind such power duos as DFA1979 for those of you who like comparisons. While not the most original thing I've ever heard, hearing an Irish voice bellowing is not something you'll see often in Toronto. Definitely a band to look out for in 2013. And just when I thought I'd seen the best act of the night, Denmark's Reptile Youth took the stage.

Reptile Youth - March 20th @Gladstone

From the opening of the first song, I knew these guys meant business. At this point, there were maybe 30 people sticking around, and most of them were lingering near the back, but as their first song, "Black Swan" filled the venue, lead singer Mads Damsgaard Kristiansen (Danish enough for ya?) held out his arms wide for almost the entirety of the song in a manner that was simultaneously menacing and inviting. It didn't seem gimmicky at all, this guy is legit.

Their music is electro-pop, but not the bubble gum type; these guys are as edgy as they come. The songs are infectious, and surprisingly enough, you pretty much know the words to every song after you hear it once. Every breakdown was an opportunity for Mads to do some serious dancing that resembled autistic frenzy. When he first addressed the audience between songs, he said in a very European accent "Vee are from Denmark, and vee didn't travel halfvay around the vorld to play a shit show" at which point he leapt off the stage and shook people until they moved to the music. Literally, he shook them. And jumped on them. And terrorized them a little, I imagine. But it worked, because the audience finally woke up and crowded to the front to enjoy the rest of the night. The lead singer continued to literally bounce off the walls in such a fashion that I was concerned for his well-being, but suffice it to say, this is not the kind of thing Toronto gets to see often, and when I spoke to the guys after the set, I promised them I'd be there for their show the next night at Annex Live, which takes us to Thursday, March 21st.

Highs - March 21 @Annex Live

I know they say that if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all, but I'll say a few things. These guys are listed as "Indie, Pop, Surf" on the CMW website. I got there about halfway through their set, and maybe they were done with the surf portion of their set by that time, but I don't really understand how anyone could classify their music as surf. It's Indie Pop, and pardon the redundancy, but it's very generic Indie Pop. I guess you have to give them credit for wearing some kind of war paint on their faces and matching arm bands and taking breaks to pound on floor toms, but seriously, doesn't everybody who has nothing original to offer resort to the matching outfits and floor tom schtick? But more on that later, next up was Reptile Youth once again.

Reptile Youth - March 21 @Annex Live

I ran into the guitarist from the band on my way in, and he was really excited that we came back. It's kind of crazy how nice these guys are when they have such an edgy performance. I couldn't help but smile when I saw that there was a decent crowd already there, but I was a little worried that the lead singer would injure himself, because the Annex Live is not a big open space like the Gladstone, it's got all kinds of perilous steps and railings and tables everywhere, and just as they were setting up, I couldn't help but think that this polite crowd of young Torontonians does not know what they're in for. Mads was jumping on tables, jumping on people, and at one point he tried to jump off of what he thought was a wall behind the curtain to the side of the stage only to realize that there was nothing but empty space, and he took quite a tumble. But right back up he got. The crowd was a lot more into it this time, but not enough for Mads! When he attempted to crowd surf, as I predicted, people moved out of the way and he might actually have lost a tooth landing face first on a railing. He crawled back onto the stage, shook his head a few times, walked backstage to wipe up, and came right back in 30 seconds spitting out a little bit of blood. And then off came the t-shirts and with a renewed ferocity they continued on to their outro, and man, this was one hell of a show, as any who was there that night will tell you. Look out for Reptile Youth, because these guys can put on a show. Also, their songs are quite catchy!

Wildlife - March 21 @The Great Hall

I was thinking that The Great Hall would be packed since there was little secret to the "Secret Guest" slated for 1AM as anyone with a smartphone and a twitter app will tell you, but there was no lineup to speak of and that was ok with me. PS I Love You had just played, and since I had seen them numerous times, I elected to catch Reptile Youth instead, but I'm sure they did a great job as they usually do. And so Wildlife begins their set. Once again, if not nice things, then few things shall I say. It could just be because I had just witnessed the genuine ferocity and authenticity of Reptile Youth and was anticipating the greatness of the "Secret Guest" to follow, but everything about Wildlife seemed painfully contrived, from the ample use of floor toms (you see a trend here?) to the arm bands (you think I'm kidding, right?) to the all-black dress-up (I'm not making this up) to the absolute generic nature of their music. But hey, twitter was a-buzz with posts about these guys, so they must be amazing and I must be wrong! Now, onto...

The Darcys - March 21 @The Great Hall

It's no secret that I think that The Darcys are the best band out of Toronto right now, bar none. The crowd had filled to its fullest for these guys, and for good reason. Their music is well thought out, purposeful, and above all, unique and original. Just take a listen to their self-titled LP which you can still download for free from their website. The sound guy was obviously outmatched because their monitors were feeding back a bit, but when you've got 2 pedal boards that can each sink a ship and 2 keyboards (no Rhodes this time) and samplers out the arsehole along with bass and drums to boot, this is not a sound guy's fantasy, and this guy was no Kip (a la Horseshoe Tavern). But, The Darcys prevailed, opening with Don't Bleed Me and having all their songs segue seamlessly into each other was eargasmic, as anyone with ears who was there will corroborate. As promised they played two new tunes off of their forthcoming release, which I believe will be released in Fall (release it already!!) and they did not disappoint. Lead singer Jason Couse exercises his vocal range to the fullest, and indeed, guitarist Mike LeRiche does the same on these new songs, and I like that they sound like Darcys songs but are definitely a bit of a departure from the first LP, and in a very good way. These guys never struck me as the kind to repeat themselves, and I just got even more excited for this new record. When they closed with Edmonton To Purgatory, you better believe the crowd was singing along with them. My personal favourite part about the way they play that live now is Jason's keyboard mashing leading up to the acapella bit. Amazing. I can't say enough good things about these guys, and there was no way any band could follow that up, but unfortunately, there was yet left a band from Dublin, Ireland who had to try.

Heritage Centre - March 21 @The Great Hall

Playing at 2AM on a Thursday in Toronto is tough, especially if the venue is not Horseshoe or Lee's, and Heritage Centre had their work cut out for them. There were maybe 20 people left at The Great Hall for their set, but they still gave it their all. It wasn't terribly original, but they are by far a lot more worthy of twitterbuzz than many buzzing bands, I'll say that about them. Their music is similar to Weezer as it says on the CMW website, and they were definitely fun and easy to listen to. So for those of you who like "chill out" music, give these guys a try. And thus ended night 3 of CMW for me, looking forward to a few more nights to follow.

CMW Review: Japan Nite Josy

2013-03-22T23:54:00.000-04:00

"We are saying German words in the states. I guess we got used to using them"- It sounded like Japanese psychedelic girl rock band, Josy had a great time in Germany while staying there for two weeks prior to the Japan Nite U.S Tour." The audience was so warm and they listen to our CD." Josy had multiple shows in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, which made them keen to explore more cities in Europe such as France and Berlin in the future. It was also the first time for them to participate at SXSW despite the fact that they've joined Japan Nite tour in the past. "It was so exciting and the city was filled with music everywhere we went."

It's been three weeks on the road and their month long world tour is coming to the end after a few more shows with Japan Nite. "Toronto's (audience) was very similar to Japan. But by looking their faces I knew that they were listening to our song attentively so I was glad that we made it to Toronto. Not only was it the first time for us to play here, but also it was for Japan Nite as well. So I hope that we can come back to Toronto sometime in the future in summer."

When the girls of Josy showed up on stage confidently and dressed up colorfully, I felt that the audience was wowed by their stage appearance and they rather couldn't figure out what to do with the dynamic of their performance. The lead singer, Kumi, invited them to step closer to the stage. However the shy audience moved only inches and left some space between stage and the crowd. Yet, it didn't stop Josy rocking out the fullest. Their funky and fetching melodies enhanced by Kumi's powerful vocal captured my attention for the entire time. (It's so hard to believe that the compelling voice was coming out from such a tiny little girl.) Their stage presence was so strong that I didn't want to miss any bit of the show. While I was taking pictures, I couldn't help noticing the expression that Kumi had throughout her performance, which was very engaging and alluring.

The band name, Josy isn't referring to the English name "Josy" It is a made-up word in Japanese based on Joshi and Josei -" Joshi (girl) and Josei (woman) "We can have both feelings of a woman and girl and also enjoy as a girl or woman forever. I think every woman can relate to that to some extent that sometimes they want to be playful like a girl forever and we wanted to express it through our music." Their style is hard to express in one word or one genre. It was just like their expressions throughout their performance changed with each song: Sometimes they appeared as cute girls, other times they had a face of a strong woman. Josy is the perfect example of the new generation of Japanese Yamato nadeshiko.

CMW Review: Japan Nite Jake Stone Garage

2013-03-22T23:46:00.000-04:00

"SXSW was such an awesome event. We had a day off during the festival and walked around the city to see various bands performing on the street. No matter where we went to, we were able to listen to music. It was as if we were living in music. I was so glad that we could be the part of the festival this year."

Acclaimed by the lead singer/guitarist, Satoshi Watanabe of Japanese rock trio from Hokkaido, Japan, Jake Stone Garage. He was impressed with the impact of SXSW and Japan Nite despite the fact that there was some delay of their flight due to the bad weather in Japan, which caused them to cancel one of the showcases at SXSW. Yet, they were still able to enjoy the festival and the Japan Nite tour in U.S and join the rest of the crew that arrived in Toronto for Canadian Music Week.

"Toronto audience reminded me of Sapporo crowd."(Sapporo is their home town. It is the capital city of Hokkaido Prefecture, located the northern island of Japan. I know you recognized the name of the city by the famous Japanese beer.) "Not only the climate, but also the reaction of the audience was similar. They were very cool. When we performed in Columbus, U.S, the audience reacted to the music directly and expressed the excitement through their body, however, New York was very cool and Toronto was somewhat like that. But they were very attentive and eagerly pay an attention to every detail. I thought I was playing in Sapporo."

Jake Stone Garage piercingly kicked off their set with thunderous guitar riffs and heart throbbing bass and drum beats. The Toronto audience didn't jump right into the overdrive immediately, however, their eyes were nailed on the stage for the entire set, trying to study their performance thoroughly. Their raw and vigorous performance even made the attentive Toronto crowd start to head bang a little. (It started off very settled like a baby headbang, but expended gradually.) The show heated up with Nirvena's cover song, Smells Like Teen Spirit. When I heard the intro of the song, I literally screamed and jumped around. "I thought it would be a great idea to bring a song that everyone knows as they probably haven't seen us live before. " Said Watanabe. Yes it was a brilliant idea!

Jake Stone Garage consists of a great balance of the melodic sensation and boisterous rock n' roll tunes and it was so hard to stay still while taking pictures. (Not only they were moving like there is no tomorrow but I couldn't resist bouncing with the music!)

I really really hope that Jake Stone Garage will be back for NXNE as they can showcase to the Canadian audience what Japanese Rock N' Roll is.

CMW Review: Chihiro Yamazaki + Route 14

2013-03-21T19:22:00.000-04:00

After Jake Stone Garage rocked the hell out of the venue, the atmosphere drastically changed with the appearance of Chihiro Yamasaki and her band, Route 14. Chihiro is best known as a trumpeter of Japanese brass band, Tokyo Brass Style who have successfully sold 20,000 CDs in Japan. Yet she started a new project in summer 2010 being in the spotlight as a new instrumental band with Route 14.

They opened up the set with the cover of Nini Rosso's Il Silenzio (Silent), The up-tempo version of the tune made the audience groove instantly. Chihiro was the centre of the attention as soon as she put her feet on the stage. She was cuter than a teddy bear and shinier than starlight. She dressed up in her A-line dress and braided hair pined up by a hair buckles with a white flower. The moment that she commenced playing her trumpet, it was as if the entire venue was lighted up brighter. I couldn't take my eyes off her, not only because of her cute appearance, but also it seemed that she was having the most fun among all of us being on the stage. She hopped and jumped around with the orchestral melodies that Route 14 crafted. She calls the band instrumental style as "Singing Instrumental." I sometimes find it hard to listen to instrumental songs for an entire set, however Chihiro Yamasaki + Route 14 was different. Their expression through their instrument sang louder than words.

They've also played some original songs. One of which I recall vividly was a song called, Ninjin (Carrot) that Chihiro composed. The jubilant tune was a reflection of her personality and adoration toward music.

CMW Review: Japan Nite-Pirates Canoe

2013-03-21T18:25:00.000-04:00

My first night at this year's CMW started off with Japan Nite at Clintons last night. Japan Nite is an annual US tour with various Japanese bands organized by Audrey Kimira since 1996 and their showcases are best known for their SXSW appearance. (Hats off to Audrey for being so passionate about the bands and thinking the best for them.) It is not an understatement to say that it started off slowly compared with any other US shows (At the SXSW showcase, it usually packs not only the venue itself, but also the balcony.) However, these five bands deployed their uniqueness and enthusiasm at the fullest during the showcase.

The first performer of the night was Kokyo based Roots/Americana trio, Pirates Canoe. All cutely dressed in green, each member crafted seamless laces of exquisite melodies from their strings. The lead singer and guitarist, Reika Hunt cast her flawless vocal that floated in the air of the venue with Sara Kohno`s banjo. On the top of that Kanako Keyaki sugarcoated it with the dulcet fiddle verse that made the sounds more resonating. The balance of the trio was very cohesive and relaxing. It was as if they took the audience to a field trip to a beautiful country side. Between the music, Reika impressed the audience not only with her more-fluent-than-Canadian- English, but also with the traditional sounds of Americana that's hard to find in Japan. Pirates Canoe ended their set with an instrumental tune that withdrew the audience to the field trip again and I wished that it would never end.

CMW Preview 2013: Spotlight on Japan

2013-03-19T23:11:00.000-04:00

I couldn't be more stoked to participate in this year's Canadian Music Week after finding out that Japan was in the spotlight this year. Last year, only two Japanese bands, Rize and Fade, made it to CMW, who I was fortunate enough to interview and review.

This year's Canadian Music Week is more enthralling than ever. One of the reasons is CMW is going to host the very first Japan Nite in Toronto. Japan Nite is the best known during SXSW, where a number of Japanese artists showcase their mind-blowing performance to the North American audience during the endless nights of the festival. My favorite band of all time, GO!GO!7188 has participated in the past.

This year, Japan Nite has extended their legs over to the Canuck Land for the first time with Jake Stone Garage, Josy, Chihiro Yamazaki +Route 14 Band, Four Minutes Til Midnight, and Pirates Canoe at Clinton tomorrow night, Wednesday, March 20th. It's only $10 at the door or you can grab a wristband to check out countless performances across the town this week.

July Talk Meets Southern Souls

2013-03-11T22:24:00.002-04:00

I almost jumped out of my chair this morning when I found out about this stellar collaboration.- Toronto rock N' rollers, July Talk have teamed up with Southern Souls, a Hamilton based project who capture live performances by local artists, founded by Mitch Fillion. July Talk perform two songs off their debut album, I've Rationed Well and Paper Girl. This video captures the enthralling raw feeling of their live performance so well that I was nailed down in front of my computer for the whole time. Give a listen from the below link.

Buke and Gase: General Dome

2013-03-10T12:50:00.000-04:00

New York experimental noise rock duo, Buke and Gase have unleashed a new music video, General Dome. Their new album was released early this year and the duo have been on the road across North America and heading to Europe in this Spring. 

Buke and Gase consist of Arone Dyer and Aron Sanchez who maneuver peculiar synth beats an percussion which craft peculiar yet riveting frequency that catches listeners ears from the very first listen. This compositional revolution should be well noted by anybody who adores noise rock. Give it a listen!